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Austin Music Census data to remain private

2016-02-04T15:28:20-06:00

By Kevin Curtin Austin Chronicle Originally published Feb. 1, 2016 A drawn-out open records dispute over results from last year’s Austin Music Census has come to a conclusion as Texas’ Attorney General ruled that Titan Music Group, who the city contracted to conduct the survey, isn’t required to turn over the raw data to parties making public information filings. Cindy Royal, a Texas State University professor, initially filed a public information request for the Census data in August. She hoped to apply it to projects in a Coding and Data Skills for Communicators course she teaches. “We look at data in [...]

Austin Music Census data to remain private2016-02-04T15:28:20-06:00

Commissioner says toll road agency appears to be violating Open Meetings Act

2016-02-03T18:18:36-06:00

By Sean Collins Walsh Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 2, 2016 Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea on Tuesday called for an investigation into whether the Austin area’s toll road agency is habitually violating the Open Meetings Act. Shea, a vocal critic of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, said that Charles Heimsath, an agency board member, made statements last week that indicated the authority regularly violates the Open Meetings Act, which prohibits a quorum of any voting body’s members from deliberating outside of public view except in special circumstances. Over Shea’s objections, the Commissioners Court voted 3-2 Tuesday to reappoint Heimsath [...]

Commissioner says toll road agency appears to be violating Open Meetings Act2016-02-03T18:18:36-06:00

Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producers

2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

By Jamie Lovegrove The Texas Tribune Originally published Jan. 29, 2016 A Texas appeals court ruled Friday that the Texas Film Commission acted within its authority when it decided after the release of the film "Machete" to deny its producers state incentive funds because of the movie's negative portrayal of Texas. The 2010 Robert Rodriguez film starred Danny Trejo as a former Mexican Federale turned vigilante who accepts a hit contract from a corrupt Texas state senator before being used as a pawn in the senator’s hardline immigration policies. Filmed in and around Austin, the movie was theoretically eligible for a [...]

Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producers2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

Judge: County must pay newspaper’s legal expenses

2016-01-28T20:40:43-06:00

By Wes Gardner Fort Bend Herald Originally published Jan. 26, 2016 Visiting Judge Larry Wagenbach denied a motion Monday that would have required the Fort Bend Herald to pay thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees for the release of information deemed to be public record. The decision means The Herald is eligible to receive attorney’s fees from Fort Bend County if county officials do not appeal the judge’s decision. For full story through subscription, click here.

Judge: County must pay newspaper’s legal expenses2016-01-28T20:40:43-06:00

FOI Foundation annual state conference set for Sept. 8

2016-01-26T15:29:15-06:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas will hold its 2016 state conference Thursday, Sept. 8, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The annual event brings together journalists, citizen activists, attorneys and government employees to share ideas and examine the latest trends in open government and the First Amendment rights of free speech and press. The conference also features presentation of the James Madison Award to an open government advocate and the State Bar of Texas Gavel Awards to outstanding journalists. More conference details are coming soon. In the meantime, hotel rooms are available [...]

FOI Foundation annual state conference set for Sept. 82016-01-26T15:29:15-06:00

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